Quick Answer
The correct choice is Password123! because it satisfies every requirement of the password complexity policy: it is exactly 12 characters long, contains uppercase (P), lowercase (assword), digits (123), and a special character (!). This example demonstrates the core concept of password complexity, which mandates the inclusion of all four character types to resist brute-force and dictionary attacks. On the CISSP exam, this type of question tests your understanding of Domain 5 (Identity and Access Management) and the practical application of security policies; a common trap is overlooking that the password must meet every stated requirement simultaneously, not just most of them. To avoid this, always verify each character category individually. A useful memory tip is to think of the mnemonic "ULDS" — Uppercase, Lowercase, Digits, Special — and mentally check each one against the candidate password.
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A password policy requires passwords to be at least 12 characters, with uppercase, lowercase, digits, and special characters. Which of the following is an example of a password that meets the policy?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "least"
Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
Abcdefghijkl
Why wrong: This lacks digits and special characters.
Pa$$w0rd
Why wrong: This is 8 characters.
MyP@ssw0rd1
Why wrong: This is 11 characters (M y P @ s s w 0 r d 1 = 11).
SecureP@ss1
Why wrong: This is 11 characters (S e c u r e P @ s s 1 = 11).
Password123!
This is 12 characters, includes uppercase, lowercase, digits, and special character.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Password123!
Option E (Password123!) meets the policy because it is 12 characters long and includes uppercase (P), lowercase (assword), digits (123), and a special character (!). The policy requires all four character types, and this password satisfies each requirement without any ambiguity.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Abcdefghijkl
Why it's wrong here
This lacks digits and special characters.
Pa$$w0rd
Why it's wrong here
This is 8 characters.
MyP@ssw0rd1
Why it's wrong here
This is 11 characters (M y P @ s s w 0 r d 1 = 11).
SecureP@ss1
Why it's wrong here
This is 11 characters (S e c u r e P @ s s 1 = 11).
Password123!
Why this is correct
This is 12 characters, includes uppercase, lowercase, digits, and special character.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often overlook the exact length requirement and focus only on character variety, leading them to select options like C or D that contain all character types but are shorter than 12 characters.
Detailed technical explanation
Password policies often enforce complexity through character set diversity to increase entropy and resist brute-force attacks. The 12-character minimum aligns with NIST SP 800-63B guidelines, which recommend longer passwords over arbitrary complexity rules. In practice, a password like 'Password123!' would have an entropy of approximately 72 bits (assuming 95 printable ASCII characters), making it resistant to offline attacks but still vulnerable to dictionary-based attacks if the base word is common.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Identity and Access Management — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Password123! — Option E (Password123!) meets the policy because it is 12 characters long and includes uppercase (P), lowercase (assword), digits (123), and a special character (!). The policy requires all four character types, and this password satisfies each requirement without any ambiguity.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This CISSP practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CISSP exam.
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